Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-18974

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any complaints or concerns regarding the lack of provision or qualifications of private first aid companies operating at events, and, if so, what actions have been taken to address these.

Yes, the Scottish Government has received complaints and concerns regarding private first aid companies operating at events. Where appropriate, officials have followed this up with relevant organisations.

Scottish Government officials are currently undertaking further work and engagement with stakeholders to scope the potential extent of issues raised by unregulated private first aid companies and consider the most appropriate and proportionate next steps.

Question reference: S6W-18977

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to raise awareness among event organisers and the public about the importance of selecting safe and responsible first aid providers to cover events.

Scottish Government has developed guidance on Protective Security at Publicly Accessible Locations. The aim and purpose of the document is to increase knowledge of what counter terrorism products are available, and it includes first aid provisions and the hyperlinks to access them. This guidance was issued to key stakeholders in June 2023.

The UK Government in partnership with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) developed a website “Protect UK”, which is available to members of the public and organisations. This website includes guidance on First Aid preparedness for organisations. This was in response to the Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations to create a central library for guidance and advice that organisations and members of the public could access.

Scottish Government has promoted the use of the guidance and advice available through this platform to all relevant Scottish stakeholders.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also provides dedicated guidance on first aid and on events, which is available on the HSE web site.

Question reference: S6W-18976

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings outlined in the Manchester Arena Inquiry report, what measures are in place to ensure that individuals providing first aid cover at events in Scotland receive ongoing training and updates to maintain their skills and qualifications at an appropriate level.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance which sets out steps an employer should take to ensure the training their first aiders receive is adequate and appropriate.

The recommendations outlined in Volume 1 of the Manchester Arena Inquiry falls to the UK Government for consideration as this is a reserved matter. The UK Government have published a draft Bill – The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) (previously referred to as Martyn’s law) for pre-legislative scrutiny on 2 nd May, ahead of a full Bill being introduced to UK Parliament in the next UK parliamentary session.

Scottish Government is working closely with the UK Government in the development and progression of this Bill, which aims to enhance public safety at Publicly Accessible Locations and Events across the UK, including Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-18975

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 22 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that individuals providing first aid cover at events possess the necessary skills and up-to-date qualifications to be able to handle various medical emergencies and incidents.

Under Health and Safety legislation, which is reserved, it is the responsibility of the employer to satisfy themselves of the competence of first aiders. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides relevant guidance on first aid provision and on event safety Events health and safety (hse.gov.uk) . The Events Industry Forum’s ‘ purple guide ’ includes example first-aid and medical assessments for an audience at an event.

Question reference: S6W-18971

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 22 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that appropriate safeguarding measures and training are a mandatory requirement for companies providing first aid cover at events.

Organisations providing first aid at events must comply with their responsibilities under general health and safety legislation, which is reserved.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance on how to manage events safely Events health and safety (hse.gov.uk) .

The HSE confirmed that an amendment in 2013 to the Health and safety (First – Aid) Regulations 1981 removed the responsibility of the HSE to approve first aid training providers and qualifications. The (Health and Safety) regulations now require employers to assess the needs for their workplace and ensure that they provide adequate and appropriate first aid to employees who are injured or become ill at work.

The regulations apply to employees only, but are accompanied by guidance strongly recommending that non employees are considered when employers decide on the first aid cover necessary for their workplace.

The Scottish Government has promoted the use of the UK Government and National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) website, “Protect UK”, to all relevant Scottish stakeholders. This website includes guidance on First Aid preparedness for organisations. This was in response to the recommendation outlined in Volume 1 of the Manchester Arena Inquiry to create a central library for guidance and advice that organisations and members of the public could access.

Scottish Government officials are currently undertaking further work and engagement with stakeholders to scope the potential extent of issues raised by unregulated private first aid companies and consider the most appropriate and proportionate next steps.

Question reference: S6W-18972

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 22 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) first aid and (b) hospitality and events sector regarding the regulatory control of private event first aid providers.

Question reference: S6W-18973

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 22 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many private first aid companies are currently registered and authorised to provide event cover, and what criteria are used to assess their eligibility.

There is no register of authorised first aid providers however, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance which sets out steps an employer should take to ensure the training their first aiders receive is adequate and appropriate for the needs of their workplace. The guidance gives examples of the types of training provider the employer might select: Selecting a first-aid training provider: A guide for employers GEIS3 (hse.gov.uk) .

Under Health and Safety legislation, which is reserved, it is the responsibility of the employer to satisfy themselves of the competence of first aiders. HSE provides relevant guidance on first aid provision and on event safety Events health and safety (hse.gov.uk) . The Events Industry Forum’s ‘ purple guide ’ includes example first-aid and medical assessments for an audience at an event.

Question reference: S6O-02447

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to end the marking and assessment boycott in Scottish universities.

Question reference: S6W-18485

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) flu, (b) DTaP/IPV, (c) MMR, (d) Td/IPV, (e) MenACWY, (f) HPV and (g) COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed to people living in Scotland in each year since 2018-19.

The number of vaccines distributed to people living in Scotland for the outlined immunisation programmes is monitored by Public Health Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally. Vaccination statistics in Scotland are publicly reported as outlined below. Due to differences in eligibility since 2018-19 and changed reporting systems used across programmes, it is not possible to directly compare uptake percentages between years.

(a) Flu - Flu & COVID vaccinations

(b) DTaP/IPV, (c) MMR https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/show-all-releases?id=20562

(d) Td/IPV, (e) MenACWY, https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/teenage-booster-immunisation-statistics-scotland/

(f) HPV : https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/hpv-immunisation-statistics-scotland/ and HPV vaccination statistics for men who have sex with men, Scotland - 5 year period ending 30 June 2022 - HPV vaccination statistics for men who have sex with men, Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland

(g) COVID-19 Archived COVID-19 Vaccination in Scotland up to September 2022

Question reference: S6W-18470

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to increase breast cancer screenings amongst women in socially deprived areas, and when the breast cancer quality performance indicators will next be published.

The Scottish Government welcomes the latest statistics publication from Public Health Scotland that reported a small improvement in screening uptake in the most deprived areas in comparison to last year. However, we recognise that there is still work to be done to ensure that screening uptake in the most deprived areas continues to increase.

Over 2021-22 and 2022-23, we provided £2 million towards projects that tackled inequalities within the cancer screening programmes. In 2023-24, an additional £1 million will be provided to build on this work. The Scottish Government has also helped support the development of a National Screening Equity Strategy that will consider the main causes of inequalities and will outline initial actions to address barriers and facilitate access of underserved groups. This strategy is due for publication this summer. More generally, the breast screening modernisation programme board will be taking forward the recommendations from a major review of breast screening, which will address screening uptake as a whole.

With regard to breast cancer quality performance indicators, Public Health Scotland are responsible for publication and are best placed to advise further.

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